Readers write: A sample of some of the letters from readers over the past weeks

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Over the past several weeks, my mailbag has been overflowing with thoughtful, witty, sometime angry letters from readers. Here’s a sample on the various topics that have been addressed in these newsletters.

On Covid, RFK Jr., and childhood vaccinations in Florida

The DeSantis distraction from losing hundreds of millions of dollars on “Alligator Alcatraz” is to have our kids get measles, mumps….

— Donald S.

The ban on all vaccines in the state of Florida, this is nothing short of an embarrassment. What these people don't realize is that these diseases are infectious. Their foolish choices put those around them at risk. By the way, is this the same Florida that mandates you wear a seat belt for your safety? Click it or ticket? What hypocrisy.

— Alexander L.

Oh my dear Lord, the CDC/ Kennedy are ignoring years of research for vaccine!
What insanity is this? They are endangering the lives of millions of people.
What can be done to stop this madness?

— Ann G.

What I cannot understand about the lunatic, regressive, anti science, anti medical, pro death Republican MAGA morons is their diminished capacity to understand the simplest of concepts. Vaccines save lives, extend lives, and promote calm. What happens when the nation of backwards, poorly educated nation of Florida, occupied by the Floridiots, has an outbreak of one of many childhood diseases? Are hospitals going to be able to treat these children? Will there be enough beds, medical staff and support staff to handle a needless influx of hundreds of sick children?

Will those sick children put others in hospital at risk of further harm? Will parents with sick children be able to afford to not work for weeks in order to care for a sick child or children? Will employers let parents of sick children with highly infectious diseases go to work with the chance of spreading disease throughout the workplace? Will daycare centers close when a child shows up with a highly communicable disease?

… These anti vax freaks are so godawful stupid that they equate putting their children, themselves, and their community at great risk of disease in order to claim some sort of demented freedom, or in Floridiot's case, freedumb!

— MPT

There is much to be discerned about the efficacy of these Covid shots. Covid is a virus much like our flu viruses. The flu shot which only protects against a few of the strains is recommended for the physically compromised. If you have a strong immune system, you do not need to introduce the flu shot …

— M. G.

Actually, this is straight from the Centers For Disease Control’s website: “Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.”

— JCB

If you're not in a high risk category for contracting Covid, such as having pre-existing diabetes, inflammatory diseases, congestive heart failure, etc, by now repeated exposure to the virus and it's multiple strains over the last 5 years means that you most likely have built up some natural immunity and should be fairly well protected, but I would always encourage you to check with your doctor. The strains that are out there are somewhat contagious, however they are not nearly as debilitating as the original strains. As always, get your doctor's advice, and petition the doctor to have Covid boosters if you need them.

— Brian S.

I was at a cardiologist appointment this morning and the doctor asked us WHY we were wearing masks, as if that was something he’d never seen before. He seemed to think that my saying that Covid is high in this area (re ER nurses) was news to him and something we were overreacting to. Since DeSantis/Trump have declared that if you don’t keep records or put out any information or guidance it simply cannot be a problem anybody needs to know about, we have very little real, easily accessed data so protecting ourselves is just common sense especially with compromised immune systems to start with.

—Bobbie O.

On Alligator Alcatraz and rainbow sidewalks

We don’t need any more concentration camps in Florida. However, we do need more color and more beautiful murals. And I’m so happy that this will be DeSantis’s last run for governor, because you suck. A little Donnie wanna be

— Teresa V.

On open carry of firearms

As a larger man, should I opt for two guns, one on each side? Matched of course. I guess I need to practice with left hand.

— Charlie F.

On posting the Ten Commandments on county property

As a matter of fact, only two of the commandants are against the law. However, the President has brokenly all ten with abandon. So maybe a teaching moment?

— Marian P.

I liked Kurt Vonnegut's response to this question. He did not think the Ten Commandments should be posted on public buildings, but he did suggest posting the Sermon on the Mount. Imagine "Blessed are the peacemakers" on the Pentagon!

— The Mad Sociologist

Keep church and state separate. Look how trying to make this a Christian country is failing already. I’m disappointed in “Christians” of today any way.

— Trish H.

Conservative Jewish archaeologists have excavated the entire area between Israel and Egypt, looking for evidence of the Exodus! They found nothing! They were invited to continue to Egypt where they found thousands of artifacts and burials! Proving that the slaves were never freed and The Exodus never happened! No Moses, Tablets or burning bush! Therefore it’s just a debunked story. Those don’t belong in our schools or anywhere else! Sue them and ask for what evidence they have..there is none!

— Gary L.

How ironic that our Felon-in-Chief has already broken many of those commandments!

— Nancy T.

5 SIMPLE WORDS…….

1. SEPARATION

2. OF

3. CHURCH

4. AND

5. STATE

Only a complete idiot would agree with this proposal. But well that’s MAGA, right?!!

— Donna P.

On Colbert, Kimmel and Censorship

I believe that anyone being approved by Congress for a government position should have to pass a course in American history, particularly to understand what our country was dealing with during the first three administrations after the revolution. President Adams instituted the Aliens & Seditions acts to restrict any domestic criticism against the administration, and from foreign influences. That didn't go over too well with the American people then, and I doubt it will now. Both acts were repealed under the Jefferson administration.

— Lyle B.

What’s being overlooked with Kimmel is that his Free Speech rights have not been taken away. He’s still free to say whatever he wants. The true problem is the platform or lack thereof. Other than standing on your own property and talking into the wind, there are no avenues for self-expression that are not owned or controlled by others. Even the so-called “public square” is subject to regulation.

— Bill W.

This is one more step toward a dictatorship, and assault on the First Amendment.

— Ron R.

No there is no hope. Soylent Green here we come. They do not need us and we serve no purpose, just a financial drain on the system. So much better financially speaking instead of paying out those pesky social security payments.

— Ellen B.

On Charlie Kirk’s murder

When you can convince yourself that it's OK to measure gun deaths on a per year basis, you've cynically chosen to delude yourself that these aren't real people dying: children, mothers, fathers, neighbors, relatives, politicians, day laborers. Rather, they're stick figures on a chalkboard that can make a 25% per annum rise be a quarter of another stick figure. Guns don’t kill people; people with guns kill people. Once it hits home, it's too late for someone who didn't deserve to die.

— David F.

On Trump’s broken promises

We are losing since 2016 with a Criminal in Power , and I am trying to ignore him as much as possible. Thanks for your support.

— Henry Z.

Perhaps someone will write and broadcast how he is running a Ponzi Pyramid crypto scheme that has earned his clan billions of dollars already.

— Mel H.

He never said great for us. It's only great for him. And consequently great for Russia, China, and all our other adversaries.

— Karl S.

On immigration enforcement

Isn't this supposed to be the country with a heart and soul - This is a country made up of immigrants from all over the world. Trump is a bloody fascist. Why are people bowing to that psychopath. Cowards. Cowards. The man is a whore - a narcissistic, psychopathic whore who's sold his soul to evil.

— Rebecca C.

On Trump’s Florida lawsuit against The New York Times

What a cowardly, childish, spoiled, deranged, narcissistic, perverse - what makes him so dangerous is his NEVER having been held accountable for his behavior - from thieving contractors by refusing to pay them for the Trump Tower, to the pedophilia, rape, traitorous connections with Russia - the typical bully - obsessed with his own power - and WHY people play to that, appease it, excuse it, rationalize it , and absolve him of any and every accountability is beyond me. What an absolute psychopathic, evil coward he is - an overgrown spoiled brat.

—Rebeca C.

On this newsletter

I just wanted to reach out and give my feedback on your newsletter. First of all, I am pretty left leaning, so I am probably your desired audience. However, given the stated goal of your newsletter, I feel like you are missing the boat by preaching to the choir. Lol, yes, I am pretty impressed with myself for managing to work in two idioms into a single sentence. As impressed as I bet that you are with your newsletter.

What does your newsletter do to make the situation better though? Does it reach out to / appeal to an uninformed audience who might be convinced by your even-keeled, unbiased analysis of the state of affairs. Uh, no. The people who would be receptive to the way you bash Trump already have a clear opinion of him that you are in no way influencing.

Well, does it at least provide leadership or guidance to those of us, like myself, who are terrified of what is happening to our country, our freedoms, and eventually our lives and families? No. It doesn't do that either.

I am a nobody, and I've done a very good job of keeping it that way. However, you have an audience and the means to reach and influence people. I would encourage you to utilize that power to influence change. A bit of sarcasm while we watch our democracy and liberties stripped away from us is not going to make things better.

Sorry, if this comes off as negative. I do get a laugh at your jabs at the Tangerine Toddler.

— Fred G.

I responded to Fred directly and among other things assured him that I don’t consider his remarks negative at all. I actually relish constructive criticism such as this, and I take his point. Consider this an invitation to share your views, too. Ultimately, we’re all in the same boat and we need to develop strategies to reclaim our democracy.

— JCB

On my bio in which I mention I hold dual citizenship in the United State of America and my native Florida.

Yeah, but do you have a passport for the Conch Republic?

— Jay A.

I told Jay that I assumed it was like traveling in the E.U.—that no passport was required when leaving Florida and arriving in the Keys. But I’m all for obtaining a Conch Republic passport. Really, somebody should get on that. Count me in.

— JCB

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J.C. Bruce, journalist and author, is the founder of Tropic Press. He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and his native Florida. Forward this email to your friends. They will love you for it.

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